Are you contemplating starting a business but don’t know what kind of business is right for you? Well, you are not alone. There are various factors to consider when choosing the type of business you want to start. Remember, you do not have to start a business from scratch; sometimes you can perfect what already exists.

You may choose a business based on what you are passionate about and love doing because passion is the one thing that gets you out of bed when things get tough. Sometimes you may start a business based on what you know or what you are good at. You may be good with people, numbers, computers, creating things, solving problems, writing and so on. Let’s say you’ve worked in the technology field for many years and you are exceptional at what you do to a point where your family, friends and neighbors defer to you for technical advice or support. So, given your great reputation and relationships in the industry, you can easily start your own business.

The other way to start a business is by solving a problem. Consider what you need that would make your life a lot easier? Let’s consider the hugely successful entrepreneur Sara Blakely in this case, the founder of Spanx; she was getting ready for a party when she realized she didn’t have the right undergarment to provide a smooth look under white pants. As women, we can all relate to this. So, Sara cut the feet off her pantyhose and the Spanx idea was born from solving this wardrobe challenge. The Spanx brand has now grown to offer bras, underwear, jeans, pants, active and more. In 2012, Sara Blakely was named the world’s youngest, self-made female billionaires by Forbes Magazine and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People. She opened retail stores across the United States and Spanx can now be found in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Or how about the brilliant and innovative idea of using staircases as an innovative space-saving way of storing shoes? While most of us are aware that the area behind stair cases is often used as storage for various things in apartments and some houses, there are now sliding shoe racks that fit right beneath each tread you step on, which is a brilliant idea. It is convenient; it resolves the space challenge in apartments, and offers an alternative to other methods of shoe storage.

So, what problem do you see around you that you can resolve to make life easier for you and others?

Thanks for visiting LoA. This community is all about telling the inspirational stories of some of Africa's most successful and innovative women entrepreneurs; engaging in discussions about issues that matter to women entrepreneurs; celebrating success; and showcasing some of the incredible companies, products and services on offer around the continent from women-owned businesses - Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief

Women dominated the Zimbabwe Institute of Management 2017 Leadership Excellence awards that were presented in Harare this month, with Securico Security Services founder, Divine Ndhlukula, picking up the prestigious Private Sector Leader of the Year award. She received the award for her ongoing contribution to management excellence in the country in the preceding year and for being an example and inspiration for others to emulate.

Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee, the game-changing for-profit social enterprise which aims to improve the livelihoods of coffee farmers whilst at the same time protecting mountain gorillas in Uganda, has just been recognised by this year’s prestigious SEED Awards.

The Keroche Foundation Young Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program is one of the tangible ways that leading Kenyan entrepreneur, Tabitha Karanja, founder of Keroche Breweries, is fulfilling her vision of empowering a new generation of young entrepreneurs in her country. Five young women entrepreneurs have just been recognized for their business building activities in the second cohort to graduate from the program.

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The rise of one-million-dollar, one-person businesses in the past five years is the biggest trend in employment today, offering the widest range of people the most ways to earn a living while having the lifestyles they want. In The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business, Elaine Pofeldt outlines the pathways to joining this entrepreneurial movement, synthesizing advice from hundreds of business owners who've done it.

From the founder and superstar CEO of DailyWorth.com, Amanda Steinberg - the go-to financial site for women with more than one million subscribers - comes a fresh book that redefines the relationship between women, self-worth, and money. Worth It shows women how to view money as a source of personal power and freedom—and live life on their terms.